Built in 1831,[1] it spans the River Wyre, connecting Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck, in the Borough of Fylde, on the southern side of the river, to Out Rawcliffe,[1] in the Borough of Wyre, on its northern side (known locally as "Over Wyre"), carrying both automotive and pedestrian traffic of Cartford Lane.

[1] The bridge, which is located nine miles from the mouth of the River Wyre at Fleetwood,[4] was built by the squire of Rawcliffe Hall[5] in 1831 after both his gamekeeper and his dairyman drowned crossing the ford it replaced.

[1] The entire Rawcliffe Hall estate was auctioned off in 1926, to pay the death duties, and the Cartford Bridge Company was formed in 1929.

[1] The Speight and Thickins families have managed the bridge since 1929.

[1] The Cartford Inn, which dates from at least the 19th century, stands on the southern side of the bridge.